Investigations on rat eyes with diabetic cataract and naphthalene cataract by Zeiss-Scheimpflug measuring system SLC.

Experimental cataract development can be objectively monitored in rats by Scheimpflug slit-image photography and microdensitometric image analysis. Zeiss (Oberkochen, Federal Republic of Germany) has developed a new computerized slit-lamp measuring system that works according to the Scheimpflug principle; we have very successfully applied it to rats with streptozotocin-induced cataracta diabetica vera and with naphthalene-induced opacities. With these cataract models we tested the gyrase inhibitor compound, Ciprofloxacin (Bayer 09867), after 6 weeks' daily peroral application (20 mg/kg body weight) for differences in cataract progression indicating a possible cocataractogenic effect of the compound. When we compared the two different Scheimpflug methods, we found that the Zeiss-Scheimpflug measuring system SLC has some handling advantages with respect to animal cataract studies. If the equipment is to be fully used, complements to the program of the integrated computer part are necessary. The image-analytical results from the animals treated with Ciprofloxacin did not show any indication of cocataractogenic potential with respect to cataracta diabetica vera or naphthalene cataract.